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I have a degree in Psychology, and spent several years working in a psychiatric hospital. The mentally ill are sick no matter what the calendar says, and there’s always a need for staffing. This meant that I was mandated to work at least one day out of every set of holidays – Thanksgiving day or Black Friday, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day – you get the idea. Either I worked on location or from home on call, but regardless, my holiday was pretty well ruined. Holidays were exhausting, and I spent the majority of my time wishing I could be at home with my family.

The Christmas of 2006, however, life changed dramatically. I had just had a baby in September, and was struggling to hold it all together at work. I was literally hanging on by a thread. Christmas Eve, my mother was killed in a car accident, and that thread snapped. I spent the next few weeks taking care of arrangements, making plans, and reevaluating my life choices. I took two weeks off work. When I returned, my heart just wasn’t in it. Eventually, they let me go for lack of focus – with good reason. I was completely unable to focus on anything except how badly I wanted to be home with my family.

I opened my own business that July, and never looked back. I was able to spend time at home with my little girl and earn an income at the same time – something I had never dreamed was even a possibility. With the help of my trusty laptop, I was able to attend my family’s Fourth of July celebration, spend time with far-flung loved ones, and submit my articles and earn an income – all at the same time! This was the first time I truly experienced the freedom that comes with working from home.

And now, for my off topic rant of the week/month:

I’m feeling a bit stressed by the holiday hoopla that’s already beginning. As a freelancer, it seems that we’re ALWAYs on a budget. And some of our family…well…aren’t :)  So, with no further ado..

Seven Ways to Make this a Holiday Season You’ll Actually Enjoy

We’re all aware of the hassle, hype, and financial disarray that generally tag alongside a major holiday like Christmas. The advertising starts in October, and doesn’t let up until the last inflatable Santa has been clearanced. It can be hard to relax and enjoy the spirit of the holidays, when the prevailing spirit seems to be massive consumerism. After all, who really enjoys trudging through the store at midnight on December 23rd, looking for a last minute gift for Aunt Millie?

The holiday season used to be a time for connecting with family, sharing good food and simple pleasures. However, its turned into a months long stress fest, with friends and family members striving to outdo each other with the perfect gift. Instead of simply showing our loved ones we care, we end up in hoc for years to the credit card companies, for gifts that have long since gone to the thrift store or mission. Somewhere along the line, holiday spending turned into an obligation - one that few of us can actually afford.

This year, try eliminating some of the hype. By turning down the roar of the television, radio, and billboards screaming at you to buy, buy, buy, you just might be able to save your sanity and some cash at the same time. Instead of spending excessively, take the time to make a budget, plan for parties and gifts, and have a Christmas that’s within your means. You’ll eliminate a good deal of stress by making sound financial decisions - no one really enjoys the holiday spending hangover.

So, without further ado, here’s our list of the top ten ways to enjoy the upcoming holiday, sans commercialism.

1. Plan for Homemade Gifts

Homemade gifts don’t always have to be elaborate - instead, think about what the recipient might truly enjoy or use, and find a way to give it to them without heading directly to the store. Instead of purchasing yet another widget for your uncle’s collection, why not bake him a loaf of the banana bread he always raves about? If your sister has always wanted to learn to crochet, consider offering her a coupon book for a series of lessons. Homemade gifts don’t have to be elaborate or expensive to hit the mark, and they give you a chance to showcase your creative skills.

2. Stick to a Budget

Set a dollar amount that you can afford, and stick to it. It may mean you have to be creative. It may mean that the postman, babysitter, and dog walker don’t get gifts this year - they’ll survive! Nothing causes holiday stress like knowing that you’re purchasing your gifts on borrowed money. Interest rates and after-holiday credit card bills can pile up quickly - avoid them by spending only the budgeted amount.

3. Party on the Cheap

Before inviting house guests, take the time to assess your party budget. Do you really want to serve crab and champagne, or would a simple fondue party be more fun (and more affordable) ? All too often, the joy of the holiday season is ruined by the obligation to dress up, go to parties, and spend time with people we barely know. Instead, why not host a casual gathering for your immediate friends, and call it done?

4. Send a Newsletter for Free

Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on printing and mailing your holiday cards, letters, and more, why not try an email newsletter? Sites like Smilebox allow you to add family photos and make beautiful montages. Another option is to format the newsletter at home, add some family pictures, and covert it to a pdf file to send via email. Your relatives and friends will have one less card to throw away, and your wallet will be grateful!

5. Limit Travel

With gas prices on the rise, there’s no better reason to stay home for the holidays! Instead of feeling pressure to commute across the country this Christmas, consider relaxing at home. You can always enjoy a holiday phone call - even with long distance rates, this is far cheaper than travel. Besides, did you really want to pack the toddler into the car, drive for hours, and then try to find a restroom? I thought not. Take the time this year to laze around on Christmas morning, drink your coffee, and spend the day in your jammies. You’ve earned it.

6. Try a Closet Gift Exchange

Instead of striving for the perfect gift, closet gift exchanges focus on the imperfect ones. “Closet gifts” are just that - gifts given with love from the back of the closet, junk pile, or attic. Focus on the weirdest thing you have that might still make a gag gift, and you’ve captured the essence of a closet gift. Their beauty is in their weirdness, as well as in their price. By choosing a fun gift exchange of this nature, you’re taking much of the pressure off of the holiday gift giving, but still allowing participants to show that they care in a unique way. It doesn’t get much better than that!

7. Limit the Number of Gifts

Often, we’re tempted to overbuy for our children. We see more and more gifts that they’ll enjoy, and before we know it, each child has a large pile “just for them”. This year, consider limiting the number of toys and gifts you purchase to three or four per child. This allows them to truly enjoy what they have and appreciate it, instead of simply blowing through the stack of presents and wondering what’s next. Don’t think of it as depriving your child - instead, focus on a smaller number of high quality toys. They’ll last longer, and you’ll have less broken junk to pick through when the holiday is over.

Now that you have the knowledge you need to enjoy your holiday - be prepared. Your family and friends will be jealous. They will attempt to manipulate you into spending more, traveling more, and stressing more. Don’t fall victim to their wiles! Instead, take a deep breath and explain to them that you are scaling back on the holiday hype. It’s a conscious decision, not an oversight, and you’d appreciate their support. Don’t be surprised if they decide that they must have the secret to your laid back holiday attitude - and don’t be afraid to share. After all - the world could use a little less hype.

If you’ve always wanted to work from home, but weren’t sure where to begin, your questions have been answered! Our new site just for work at home moms and wannabe work at home moms is live, and we’re ready to answer any and all of your questions, help you launch your new business, and share with you as you succeed.

To learn more, visit www.wahmsalliance.com

See you on the other side!

Sandi

Have you ever noticed that writers either have dry spells, or very very busy spells? That certainly seems to be the case with me.

I’m currently working on big projects for several newer clients, as well as trying to find time for work of my own. I’ve been considering beginning to write for myself for awhile now, and interested in creating some passive income streams. I’ve been working on that, plus catching up on the client work from when I had the baby - busy, busy, busy! Hopefully it will all pay off in a few months, though, and I’ll be able to sit back and relax for the holidays.

What do you do when you’re extremely busy to manage your stress?

For those readers wondering where I disappeared to - I went off and had a baby! Pregnancy, overall, was incredibly rough on me, and I ended up drastically cutting down on my committments and work. Now we’re home, and hopefully things are back to normal - or as normal as things get with a new little one around!

I’m also in the process of launching a new membership site for WAHM’s with my business partner, Marie Pugh. You can check it out at www.wahmsalliance.com. There’s a free report just for signing up for our newsletter, and the site will be live in a week or so. There’s also a free community area that you can join now, for those of you who just…can’t….wait!